Zig-zag stitching apparatus for sewing machines



Sept. 6; 1955 w. H. D. LANGHEIN ZIGZAG STITCHING APPARATUS FOR SEWINGMACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1952 FIG- 2/ Ill/A MIKE/IMPWALTER HEINRICH DANIEL Lmensm P 6, 1955 w. H. D. LANGHEIN 2,716,953

Z IG-ZAG STITCH ING APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 28, 1952 3wllgmllm l/W-WI'OP WALTER HEINRICH DANIEL LANGHEIN Sept. 6, 1955 w H. D.LANGHEIN ZIG-ZAG STITCHING APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Oct. 28, 1952 lA/Vf/WUI? WALTER HEINRICH DANIEL LANGHEIN Sept.6, 1955 w. H. D. LANGHEIN 2,716,953

ZIG-ZAG STITCHING APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 28, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOP WALTER HEINRICH DANIEL LANGHEIN United StatesPatent 0 ZIG-ZAG STITCHING APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Walter HeinrichDaniel Langhein, Hamburg-Volksdorf, Germany, assignor to Ingolf FelixFriedrich Emil Pauls, Basel, Switzerland Application October 28, 1952,Serial No. 317,312 Claims priority, application Germany August 18, 19529 Claims. (Cl. 112158) The present invention relates to a sewing machineapparatus.

More particularly the present invention relates to a sewing machineapparatus for producing a ziz-zag stitchmg.

Although there are known devices for enabling sewing machines to producezig-zag stitching, these known devices are very elaborate and expensiveand operate in a very complicated way. For example, in one knownmachine, the whole needle is moved as a unit in order to produce azig-zag sitiching, and the structure for connecting the drive to theneedle, while allowing the latter to move as a unit, is exceedinglycomplicated and expensive.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide azig-zag stitching apparatus which is of a relatively simple andinexpensive construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a zig-zagstitching apparatus which may conveniently be mounted in conventionalsewing machines, whether they are hand or foot operated, or powerdriven.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means foradjusting a ziz-zag stitching apparatus so as to thereby control thesize of the ziz-zag stitching.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a zig-zagstitching apparatus which does not in any way interfere with the normaloperation of a sewing machine.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a means forconveniently and simply stopping and starting the zig-zag stitchingoperations.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists ofa sewing machine apparatus for producing a zig-zag stitching, thisapparatus including a support means supporting a needle carrying rod forreciprocating movement thereon, and a needle, adapted to pass throughthe material to be sewn, located to one side of and being parallel tothe axis of the rod and extending therefrom. A first drive means isoperatively connected to the rod for reciprocating the same along theaxis thereof, and a second drive means is operatively connected to therod for reciprocating the same about said axis, so as to produce thezig-zag stitching.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figs. 14 respectively show schematic illustrations of the principle ofthe present invention;

Fig.- 5 is a side, fragmentary view of the apparatus with part of thesewing machine housing broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the apparatus of Fig. 5 showing thetop dead center position of the needle;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a part of the structure of Fig. 5 takenalong the lines VIIVII of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the structure of Fig. 5 taken alonglines VIIIVIII of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a part of the structure of Fig. 5 takenalong line IXIX of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10v is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 6 and illustrating thebottom dead center position of the needle;

, Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line XIXI of Fig.6 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, side, partly sectional view of the details ofthe structure for starting and stopping the zigzag stitching operationsand illustrating this structure in the position where it is disconnectedfrom the needle;

Fig. 13 is a partly sectional of Fig. 12;

Figs. 14-17 are partly sectional, fragmentary views of the drive for thezig-zig stitching apparatus of the present invention, these figuresrespectively showing this drive in four different positions thereof;

Figs. 18 and 19 are respectively side and plan views, partly in section,of a detail of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along XX-XX of Fig. 18 in thedirection'of the arrows;

Fig. 21 is a side sectional view of another detail of the apparatus ofthe present invention;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along line XXII- XXII of Fig. 21 inthe direction of thearrows; and

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along line XXIII- XXIII of Fig. 22 inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 14 thereofwhich schematically illustrate the prin ciple of the invention, it isseen that the needle is guided for reciprocating vertical movement inthe bearings 2 and 3 by any suitable drive means (not shown in theseFigs. 1-4), such as a motor-driven crank or the like. In accordance withthe present invention the needle includes a needle carrying rod 1 guidedin the bearings 2 and 3 and a needle 4 which is eccentrically connectedto the rod 1 by the portion 13, needle 4 being parallel to the axis ofrod 1, and extending from the latter. A double lever 5 is connected by arib and groove means 6 to the rod 1 in such a way as to permit this rod1 to reciprocate vertically independently of the double arm lever 5while constraining this rod 1 to turn with the lever 5 about the axis ofrod 1. On the two arms of the lever 5, which respectively extend fromopposite sides of the rod 1, in a direction normal thereto, there arerespectively mounted a pair of rollers 7 and 8. Roller 7 contacts aneccentric disc 9, and roller 8 contacts an eccentric disc 10, when thezig-zag stitching apparatus is operated. During normal sewingoperations, the rollers 7 and 8 are not influenced by the discs 9 and10, as will be more fully described below. The discs 9 and 10 are fixedto a shaft 1 and 2. This rotation of the shaft 11 causes the eccentricdiscs 9 and 10 to alternately move the rollers I 7 and 8 about the axisof irod 1 to cause the lever: 5 to "reciprocate about this axis andthereby cause the needle a left part of the stitching a (Fig. 3) and,

(Fig. 4) in the material A.

itself to reciprocate about this axis so that the needle 4 periodicallymoves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, thatis, when the needle moves down wardly fromits top dead center position,it makes, e. g., when the needle moves upwardly and toward the positionshown in Fig. 2 and then downwardly from the top dead center positionthereof, it makes the right part of the stitching b plan View of thestructure Thus, Figs. 1-4 illustrate the main principles of theinvention, which reside in mounting the needle 4 eccentrically on theneedle rod 1, and reciprocating the needle rod about its axis, whilepermitting the same to reciprocate along its axis, to produce thezig-zag stitching.

Referring now to the details of the actual construction of the apparatusof the present invention, it will be seen from Fig, 5 that thefragmentarily illustrated housing 12 carries upper and lower bearings 2and 3 for the needle carrying rod 1. This rod 1 has fixed to its lowerend a clamping device 13 for clamping a needle 4. As is shown in Fig.11, the clamping device 13 is fixed to the rod 1 by a countersunk screwmember 14, and this clamping device is formed with a cutout 15 passingtherethrough and having the top end portion of the needle 4 locatedtherein. A screw member 16, having a knurled head, threadedly extendsthrough the member 13 into the opening 15 to releasably clamp the needle4 to the member' 13. As is shown most clearly in Fig. 5 (and Fig. 6),the needle 4 is eccentrically located with respect to the axis M of theneedle carrying rod 1.

As is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 10, the needle carrying rod 1 is providedadjacent to its upper end with 'a collar 17 fixed thereto and with ascrew threadedly extending into the top end portion of the rod 1. Asplit sleeve 18, having a pair of ears located opposite each other andtraversed by the bolt and nut means 19 (Fig. 5), is loosely locatedabout the top end portion of rod 1 and between the collar 17 and thehead of screw 20 so that the sleeve 18 cannot move axially along the rod1 while the latter may turn about its own axis M within the sleeve 18.

A drive shaft 21 is mounted in bearings 22 and 23 (Figs. 5 and 7) of thesewing machine housing for turning movement about its own axis, thisshaft 21 being adapted to be reciprocated back and forth about its ownaxis. This shaft 21 derives its drive from a member 24, which isreciprocated in a vertical direction by a drive (not shown and notforming part of the present invention). The member 24 is pivotallylinked, through the medium of the forked member 25 and a pin passingtherethrough, to a link 26 which is fixed to the shaft 21, so that thelatter turnably reciprocates about its own axis upon reciprocation ofthe member 24.

A fork-shaped lever 27 is fixed at one end to the shaft 21 forturningrnovement therewith and is pivotally connected at its oppositeend to a link 28 which is in turn pivotally connected to the bolt andnut means 19 passing through the ears of the split sleeve 18. Thus, uponreciprocation of the member 24, a drive is transmitted to the needlecarrying rod 1 and the needle 4 connected thereto, for reciprocatingsame in a vertical direction during normal operations of the sewingmachine.

A carriage 29, the details of which are illustrated in Figs. 18-20,isslidably mounted at one end in guide Ways 30 and 31 and has itsopposite end 32 freely located in a slot of wall 54 of the housing 12(Fig. 5). Thus, the carriage 29 is slidably mounted for movement in ahorizontal direction to the right and left, as viewed in Fig. 5, along aline normal to the axis of rod 1. In the left end portion of carriage29, as viewed in Figs. 5, 18 and 19, there is formed a threaded bore 34which is threadedly engaged by a wing screw 36, passing through abracket 35, fixedly mounted on the housing 12, on the outside thereof,and extending into an annular groove of the wing screw 36 so as toprevent the latter from moving axially while allowing the same to rotateso as to move the carriage 29 to the right or left, as viewed in Fig. 5,this carriage being shown in its leftmost position in Fig. 5. It isapparent that by turningof the wing screw 36, the carriage 29 may beadjustably located in any position between two extreme end positions.

The double-armed lever 5, which has already been mentioned above inconnection with Figs. 1 and 4 and which is provided with rollers 7 and 3respectively located on the two arms of the lever S, is supported in theguide ways 37 of the carriage 29 (Figs. 18-20), the arms of the lever 5respectively extending through these guide ways 37 and the intermediateparto'flever 5, located between the arms thereof, being located betweenthe guide ways 37 and in an opening 41 passing vertically through thecarriage 29. At this intermediate part of lever 5, the

latter is provided with a hollowcylindrical portion 39.

through which the needle carrying rod 1 slidably passes. This needlecarrying rod 1 is provided on opposite sides thereof with a pair of ribs40 which are fixed to the rod 1 as by being formed integrallytherewith,and these ribs 41 are slidably located in mating groovesforrnedin theinner surface of the cylinder 39. As a result of this construction, therod 1 is capableof freely sliding in a vertical direction through thecylinder 39. The opening 41 in the carriage 29 is iarge enough toaccommodate the cylinder 39 and at its right-hand part, as viewed inFig. 19, this opening 41 is narrowed to provide the space 42, for apurpose to be described below.

As was mentioned above in connection with Figs. l-4, the eccentric discs9 and 111 are fixed to a shaft 11, and the latter is turnably mounted inan opening 43, extending through the carriage 29 across the space 42'and in a direction substantially parallel to the lever 5. Collars 45 arefixed to the shaft 11 on the outer sides of carriage 29 to prevent axialmovement of the shaft 11. Within the interior of the space 42, there arelocated a pair of cams 46 and 47 which are fixed to the shaft 11 (Figs.14-17) and which include the carnming edge portions 48.

The carriage 29 slidably supports a slide means 49 for reciprocatingmovement in a direction parallel to the axis of rod 1, and the detailsof this slide means are illustrated in Figs. 2l-23 where it is seen thattwo opposite sheet metal .walls 49 are interconnected at their oppositeends by the cap membcrs 50 and 51, these side wall members 49 slidablyengaging the outer sides of the carriage 29, as is shown most clearly inFig. 9. A plate 52 is fixed to the top side of cap 50 and has anextension 53, extending through an'opening in the wall 50 into theinterior of the slide means 49' where this extension 53 turnablysupports a roller 54. Through the lower cap 51, there extends a member56 of a plate 55 fixed to the outer side of the wall 51, and this member56 turnably supports a roller 57, the latter and member 56 being locatedin a suitabie opening in the wall of cap member 51. As is evident fromFig. 22, the rollers 54 and 57 are located substantially opposite eachother. A guide rod 58 (Fig. 5) is fixed to and extends through anopening in the carriage 2 9 and also extends through openings in thecaps 5i) and 51. so that this guide rod 58 guides the slide means 49 forvertical reciprocating movement. In order to prevent any turning of theslide means about rod 58 andcarriage 25, the carriage is formed with avertical groove 60 in which a guide rib 59 fixed to the inner surface ofone of the side walls 49 is slidably located. As is apparent from Figs.14-17, the rollers 54 and 57 are positioned to engage earns 46 and 47.

The plate 52 carries at a side of the slide means 49' an extension'61 towhich a pin 62 is fixed (Fig. 5) and this pin 62 turnably supports alink 63, this pin 62 extending through an opening in the link 63. Thelink 63 is provided at an opposite end thereof with a bore forming abearing 64 for a pin 66 fixed to the thread pulling lever which isreciprocated through any conventional drive (not shown and not formingpart of thepresent invention), such as a motor-driven crank or the like.The thread pulling lever 65 is fixedly connected to a hollow tubularmember 67, through which the shaft 21 freely passes, and this tubularmember 67 engages, on one side. a collar 68 fixed to theshaft 21 and, onthe opposite side, the lever 26, so that in this way the member 67 isprevented from moving axially along theshaft 21 Through the abovedescribed construction, the slide means 49 obtains its reciprocationfrom the movement of the thread pulling lever 65.

Within the part 76 of the bearing 3 (Fig. 5) there is formed a conicalopening 71 in which is located a tubular felt member 72. A tubularmember 73 is loosely located about the rod 1 and threadedly engages thepart 70 so as to press with an adjustable force against the felt member72 to adjust the degree with which this latter member presses againstthe rod 1. The described parts 70 to 73 represent brake means for therod 1 preventing the same from swinging due to inertia.

When the apparatus is in the position illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13,the sewing machine is set for normal operation. That is, the needle rod1 moves continually up and down and the above-described device forproducing a zig-zag stitching is disconnected and inoperative. In orderto produce this result, as is apparent from Figs. 12 and 13, the wingscrew 36 is turned to locate the carriage 29 well to the right of rod 1and against the right wall of housing 12 (shown in section in Fig. 12),so that the eccentric discs 9 and 10 do not contact the rollers 7 and 8.It should be noted that when the carriage 29 is in the position shown inFig. 12 with its right-hand end located against a wall of housing 12,the end surfaces 69 of the guide ways 37 bear lightly against the lever5 to block the same from sidewise swinging. During this time, the slidemeans 49 is not disconnected since it is continually moving up and downwith the thread pulling lever 65.

To set the zig-zag stitching apparatus into operation, the wing screw 36is turned to move the carriage 29 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 12 and13, so as to bring it toward the opposite extreme position which isillustrated in Fig. 5. In this way, the eccentric discs 9 and 10 comeinto contact with the rollers 7 and 8 and reciprocate the lever 5 andthe rod 1 therewith about the axis of the latter, as was described abovein connection with Figs. l4. In the position of the parts which isillustrated in Figs. 5 and 8, the rod 1 will be reciprocated about itsaxis M to the greatest degree which is possible with the disclosedapparatus. When the carriage 29 is located between the twoabove-described extreme positions, the reciprocation of the rod 1 aboutits axis will be less than the maximum reciprocation obtained from theposition of the parts shown in Fig. 5, so that by proper adjustment ofthe carriage 29, through the wing screw as, a desired size of zig-zagstitching may be obtained. While the rod 1 reciprocates about its axisM, the felt member 72 frictionally bears against the same to prevent therod 1 from swinging due to inertia, so that the zigzag stitching willalways be accurately controlled by the setting obtained from wing screw36. I

When the needle 4 and the rod 1 connected thereto are in their top deadcenter position, shown in Fig. 6, the slide means 49' is in the positionshown in Fig. 14. When the rod 1 moves down and the thread pulling lever65 moves up, then the slide means 49 is also moved upwardly with thethread pulling lever from position shown in Fig. 14- toward those shownin Figs. 15 and 16. As is apparent from Fig. 15, the lower roller 57comes into contact with the camming edge portion 48 of cam 47 and turnsthe latter and the shaft 11 therewith to the position shown in Fig. 16which is the topmost position of the slide means of 49. In this way, theother cam 46 is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs.1417, together with shaft 11 and the eccentric discs 9 and 10, so thatthe cam 46 becomes located beneath the roller 54 to be engaged by thesame upon downward movement of the slide means 49', as shown in Fig. 17.The continued downward movement of the slide means 49' to the positionshown in Fig. 17 locates the earns 46 and 47 in a position which is 180from that shown in Fig. 14, and then the above operations are repeatedso as to continually turn the discs 9 and 10 through a half revolutionduring the time that needle 4 travels up and 6 down through a completecycle, so that the lever 5, and the rod 1 and needle 4 therewith, areturned first one way, during an up and down movement of the needle, andthen the other way, during the next up and down movement of the needle,about the axis of rod 1.

It is believed to be apparent that the above described construction forproducing a Zig-Zag stitching may be mounted in any conventional sewingmachine, irrespective of whether the machine is hand or foot operated oris power driven.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofsewing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in azig-zag stitching apparatus for sewing machines, it is not intended tobe limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zigzag stitching,comprising, in combination, support means; a needle carrying rod mountedon said support means for reciprocating movement thereon; a needle,adapted to pass through the material to be sewn, located to one side ofand being parallel to the axis of said rod and extending therefrom;first drive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocatingthe same along the axis thereof; and second drive means operativelyconnected to said rod for reciprocating the same about said axisthereof, said second drive means comprising a lever connected to saidrod, extending transversely to the same, and having opposite armsrespectively extending from opposite sides of said rod; and a pair ofstaggered eccentrics turnably mounted on said support means andrespectively located opposite said arms of said lever to successivelyengage the same for reciprocating said rodabout said axis thereof.

2. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zigzag stitching,comprising, in combination, support means; a needle carrying rod mountedon said support means for reciprocating movement thereon; a needle,adapted to pass through the material to be sewn, located to one side ofand being parallel to the axis of said rod and extendtherefrom; firstdrive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocating the samealong the axis thereof; a two armed lever connected to said rod,extending transversely thereof, and having its two arms respectivelyextending from opposite sides of said rod; a carriage mounted on saidsupport means for movement toward and away from said lever along a linesubstantially normal to said lever and to said axis of said rod; a shaftturnably mounted on said carriage and extending in a directionsubstantially parallel to said lever; a pair of eccentrics spaced fromeach other, being located respectively opposite said lever arms, beingfixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, and being out of phase witheach other; moving means operatively connected to said carriage formoving the same toward and away from said rod so as to control theextent to which said eccentrics move said lever about said axis of saidrod and so as to stop and start reciprocation of said rod about saidaxis thereof;-

and driving means operatively connected to said shaft for turning thesame.

3. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a ziga zag stitching,comprising, in combination, support means; a needle carrying rod mountedon said support means for reciprocating movement thereon; a needle,adapted to pass through the material to be sewn, located to one side ofand being parallel to the axis of said rod and extending therefrom;first drive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocatingthe same along the axis thereof; a two armed lever connected to saidrod, extending transversely thereof, and having its two armsrespectively extending from opposite sides of said rod; a carriagemounted on said support means for movement toward and away from saidlever along a line substantially normal to said lever and to said axisof said rod, said carriagesupporting said lever and being formed with anopening through which said rod extends, a shaft turnably mounted on saidcarriage and extending in a direction substantially parallel to saidlever; a pair of eccentrics spaced from each other, being locatedrespectively opposite said lever arms, being fixed to said shaft forrotation therewith, and being 180 out of phase with each other; movingmeans operatively connected to said carriage for moving the same towardand away from said rod so as to control the extent to which saideccentrics move said lever about said axis of said rod and so as to stopand start reciprocation of said rod about said axis thereof; and drivingmeans operatively connected to said shaft for turning the same.

4. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zig- Zag stitching,comprising, in combination, support means; a. needle carrying rodmounted on said support means for reciprocating movement thereon, saidrod having on its outer surface at least one elongated rib extendingparallel to the axis thereof; a needle, adapted to pass through thematerial to be sewn, located to one side of and being parallel to theaxis of said rod and extending therefrom; first drive means operativelyconnected to said rod for reciprocating the same along the axis thereof;a twoarmed lever connected to said rod, extending transversely thereof,and having its two arms respectively extending from opposite sides ofsaid rod, said lever being formed intermediate said arms thereof with anopening through which said rod extends and with a groove extendingparallel to the axis of said rod and having said rib slidably locatedtherein; a carriage mounted on said support means for movement towardand away from said lever along a line substantially normal to said leverand to said axis of said rod, said carriage supporting said lever andbeing formed with an opening through which said rod extends, a shaftturnably mounted on said carriage and extending in a directionsubstantially parallel to said lever; a pair of eccentrics spaced fromeach other, being located respectively opposite said lever arms, beingfixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, and being 180 out of phasewith each other; moving means operatively con nected to said carriagefor moving the same toward and away from said rod so as to control theextent to which. said eccentrics move said lever about said axis of saidrod and so on so as to stop and start reciprocation of said rod aboutsaid axis thereof; and driving means operatively connected to said shaftfor turning the same.

5 A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zigzag stitching,comprising, in combination, support means; a needle carrying rod mountedon said support means for reciprocating movement thereon; a needle,adapted to pass through the material to be sewn, located to one side ofand being parallel to the axis of said rod and extending therefrom;first drive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocatingthe same along the axis thereof; a two armed lever connected to saidrod, extending transversely thereof, and having its two armsrespectively extending from opposite sides of said rod; a carriagemounted on said support means for movement toward and away from saidlever along a line substantially normal to said lever and to said axisof aid rod; sha ura bl resum 91. sa tarmac and extending in a directionsubstantially parallel to said lever; a pair of eccentrics spaced fromeach other, being to said shaft for rotation therewith, and being180fout of phase with each other; moving means operatively con-' nected tosaid carriage for moving the same toward and away from said rod so as tocontrol the extent to which said eccentrics move said lever about saidaxis of said rod and so as to stop and start reciprocation of said rodabout said axis thereof; a pair of cams fixed to said shaft between saideccentrics, and extending in opposite directions from said shaft along aline normal'to the same; slide means slidably mounted on said carriagefor reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to said axis of saidrod and having opposite walls respectively located on'opposite sides ofsaid shaft and facing said earns; a pair of contact members locatedopposite said cams adapted to contact the same and being fixed to saidopposite walls of said slide means on the sides thereof facing saidshaft, respectively; and drive means operatively connected to said slidemeans for reciprocating the same in said direction parallel to said axisof said rod so that said contact members successively engage and movesaid cams to rotate said shaft.

6. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zig-zag stitching andhaving a thread pulling lever adapted to reciprocate, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, support means; a needle carrying rod mountedon said support means for reciprocating movement thereon; a needle,adapted to pass through the material to be sewn, located to one side ofand being parallel to the axis of said rod and extending therefrom;first drive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocatingthe same along the axis thereof; a two armed lever connected to saidrod, extending transversely thereof, and having its two armsrespectively extending from opposite sides of said rod; a carriagemounted on said support means for move-' ment toward and away from saidlever along a line substantially normal to said lever and to said axisof said rod; a shaft turnably mounted on said carriage and extending ina direction substantially parallel to said lever, a pair of eccentricsspaced from each other, being located respectively opposite said leverarms, being fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, and being 180out of phase with each other; moving means operatively connected to saidcarriage for moving the same toward and away from said rod so as tocontrol the extent to which said eccentrics move said lever about saidaxis of said rod and so as to stop and start reciprocation of said rodabout said axis thereof; a pair of cams fixed to said shaft between saideccentrics, and extending in opposite directions from said shaft along aline normal to the same; slide means slidably mounted on said carriagefor reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to said axis of saidrod and having opposite walls respectively located on opposite sides ofsaid shaft and facing said cams; a

pair of contact members located opposite said cams adapted to contactthe same and being fixed to said opposite walls of said slide means onthe sides thereof facing said shaft, respectively; and linkage meansconnecting said slide means to the thread pulling lever of the machinefor reciprocating said slide means in said direction parallel to saidaxis of said rod when the thread pulling lever reciprocates so that saidcontact members successively engage and move said cams to rotate saidshaft.

7. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zig-zag stitching andhaving a thread pulling lever adapted to reciprocate, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, support means; a needle carrying rod mountedon said support means for reciprocating movement thereon; a needle,adapted to pass through the material to be sewn, located to one side ofand being parallel to the axis of said rod and extending therefrom;first drive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocatingthe same along the axis thereof; a two armed'lever connected to saidrod, extending transversely thereof, and having its two armsrespectively extending from opposite sides of said rod; a carriagemounted on said support means for movement toward and away from saidlever along a line substantially normal to said lever and to said axisof said rod; a shaft turnably mounted on said carriage and extending ina direction substantially parallel to said lever; a pair of eccentricsspaced from each other, being located respectively opposite said leverarms, being fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, and being 180out of phase with each other; moving means operatively connected to saidcarriage for moving the same toward and away from said rod so as tocontrol the extent to which said eccentrics move said lever about saidaxis of said rod and so as to stop and start reciprocation of said rodabout said axis thereof; a pair of cams fixed to said shaft between saideccentrics, and extending in opposite directions from said shaft along aline normal to the same; slide means slidably mounted on said carriagefor reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to said axis of saidrod and having opposite walls respectively located on opposite sides ofsaid shaft and facing said cams; a pair of contact members locatedopposite said cams adapted to contact the same and being fixed to saidopposite walls of said slide means on the slides thereof facing saidshaft, respectively; linkage means connecting said slide means to thethread pulling lever of the machine for reciprocating said slide meansin said direction parallel to said axis of said rod when the threadpulling lever reciprocates so that said contact members successivelyengage and move said cams to rotate said shaft; and brake meansoperatively connected to said rod to prevent the same from swingingabout said axis thereof due to inertia.

8. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zig-zag stitching,comprising, in combination, support means ineluding a member formed withan opening passing therethrough; a needle carrying rod mounted on saidsupport means for reciprocating movement thereon and extending throughsaid opening of said member; a needle, adapted to pass through thematerial to be sewn, located to one side of and being parallel to theaxis of said rod and extending therefrom; first drive means operativelyconnected to said rod for reciprocating the same along the axis thereof;second drive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocatingthe same about said axis thereof; a tubular felt member located in saidopening of said member about and against said rod; and compressing meansoperatively connected to said felt member for compressing the same toregulate the force with which said felt member bears against said rod soas to prevent the latter from swinging about said axis thereof due toinertia.

9. A sewing machine apparatus for producing a zig-zag stitching,comprising, in combination, support means; a needle carrying rod mountedon said support means for reciprocating movement thereon; a needle,adapted to pass through the material to be sewn, located to one side ofand being parallel to the axis of said rod and extending therefrom;first drive means operatively connected to said rod for reciprocatingthe same along the axis thereof; a lever located on said support means,extending transversely to said rod, and being formed with an openingthrough which said rod extends; rib and groove means interconnectingsaid lever and rod and extending in a direction parallel to the axis ofthe latter to permitsaid rod to reciprocate along said axis thereofwhile constraining said rod to turn about said axis thereof when saidlever is turned about said axis; and reciprocating means operativelyconnected to said lever for reciprocating the same about said axis ofsaid rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,162,987 De Voe Dec. 7, 1915 1,372,473 Allen et al. Mar. 22, 19211,466,154 Sharaf Aug. 28, 1923 2,311,194 Wood Feb. 12, 1943 2,324,836Hale July 20, 1943

